The Regulation Of B Cell Differentiation And Survival In Response To Antigen Challenge
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,409.00
Summary
Antibodies are crucial to health and well being but can cause disease if their production is not controlled appropriately. This research program examines the basis of antibody production in normal situations and in situations where it is causing illness, in diseases like system lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in cancers of antibody producing cells called multiple myeloma (MM). The aim is to enable control of the process to achieve better health outcomes and better management of disease.
I am a hematologist with expertise in the science of immunology and clinical experience in bone marrow transplantation and the treatment of hematological malignancies. My vision is to study the biology of dendritic cells, which are the specialized white cells that initiate the immune response, and then, to apply this knowledge to the design and introduction of novel diagnostic and therapeutic immune strategies, to improve the survival of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
B Cell Survival And Responsiveness In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
I am an immunologist focused on identifying how B lymphocytes, the cells responsible for producing antibodies, survive and participate in immune responses within the body. I achieve this by using specially designed, genetically modified, mice that allow me to follow B lymphocytes within the body and identify their key genetic and external controls. My work is relevant to vaccine development as well as the control of certain autoimmune diseases and B lymphocyte cancers.
Epidemiological Investigation Of The Role Of Early Life Environment In The Development Of Immune Function And Allergic And Autoimmune Disease: Knowledge Generation For Future Primary Prevention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
Immune diseases, which include allergic and autoimmune diseases, are accounting for an increasing fraction of the disease burden in Australia. It is now increasingly recognised that early life changes to the immune system by environmental factors can impact on the risk of these diseases. The goal of this fellowship is the prevention of allergic and autoimmune disease.
Interfacing Epidemiology With Systems Biology For Disease Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,975.00
Summary
Over recent time, allergic and some autoimmune diseases have increased among modern children. The change has been too rapid to be due to genetic factors alone and my research program examines also the role of the changing environment. It also examines the health effects of new man-made exposures like plastic product chemicals.
Sun Exposure, Vitamin D And Photohealth Over The Lifetime
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
Australia is a sunny country with a diverse population. Inappropriate sun exposure for skin type leads to skin cancer (mainly in the fair-skinned) and vitamin D deficiency (particularly in the darker-skinned). Potential benefits of sun exposure are broader than vitamin D production, but remain ill-defined. There are few data on appropriate sun exposure for children. This research fellowship builds the evidence to guide sun exposure messages.
Fall Prevention In Older People And Those With Neurodegenerative Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$938,910.00
Summary
Falls are a major heath care problem for older people and clinical groups. This program of research will improve fall risk assessments and design and evaluate promising strategies for improving balance control and preventing falls in these groups.
To Understand The Roles Of Plasminogen Activation In The Blood And The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,745.00
Summary
This research Fellowship will focus of the molecular and cellular biology of the plasminogen activating system, more commonly associated with the removal of blood clots. The research proposed will address a new paradigm for the removal of blood clots, and also a program to understand how the plasminogen activating system modulates the central nervous system and the immune response. This research will impact directly on ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis.
Understanding Determinant Selection In Autoimmune Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,656.00
Summary
Understanding what the immune system perceives during infection or in autoimmunity is key to the development of improved vaccines and therapies for a variety of human diseases. This proposal builds on leading research into the definition of targets of immunity in autoimmune diseases using cutting edge proteomic technologies. The proposal focuses on type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and will delineate candidate therapeutic molecules.
I am the leading scientist studying a factor named BAFF and discovered its role in autoimmunity. BAFF inhibitors are effective in late stage clinical trials treating lupus patients. Our new work shows that BAFF has other fascinating roles, in particular the ability to control effects from some microbes capable of activating autoimmune and inflammatory reactions. This new work is leading us to the development of an entirely new generation of therapeutics treating autoimmunity and inflammation.